Plastic composition



operations. breakdown of the molecule into smaller molecules,

compositions.

Patented May 8, 1945 PLASTIC COMPOSITION John S. Tinsley, Wilmington, DeL, assignor to Hercules Powder Company, Wilmington, Del.,

a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Application May 18, 1942, Serial No. 443,462

Claims. (01. 106 -188) This invention relates to the stabilization of ethyl cellulose and more particularly to the production of ethyl cellulose compositions which retain their viscosity, flexibility, and color after exposure to heat, ultraviolet light, or outdoor weathering,

Ethyl cellulose compositions have been used The stability to heat, ultraviolet light, and outdoor weathering are measured by the percentage retention of viscosity, flexibility, and'color.

In many cases, the percentag viscosity retenin a. variety of applications such as films, foils,

sheets, coating compounds, ,fabrics, filaments,

and in numerous molded articles such as combs,-

buttons, tableware, brushes, radio 'parts', etc., where the compositions of ethyl cellulose have -been subjected to injection and compression molding operations and extrusion.

In the formation of injection molding compositions, it is vitally important that the composi-'- tions should not be degraded by the heat to which they are subjected during the compounding and molding cycles. Such degradation results in a lowered flexibility, brittleness, loss of impact strength, and a marked lowering of. the viscosity of the ethyl cellulose. It is also important that the ethyl cellulose composition should not develop undesirable coloring during the molding The degradation apparently is a hence the brittleness, lowered viscosity, etc.

Ethyl cellulose has been made up into thin sheets for use as a wrapping material, adhesive tape, etc., and in heavier sheets which have been used for flexible windows, paneling, etc. Resistance to the degrading effects of heat, ultraviolet light or outdoor weathering for these sheets is very important and here again it is desirable to avoid development of undesirable color during exposure. The prevention oi. the degradation of ethyl cellulose by heat, ultraviolet light, and outdoor weathering is also of vital importance in the successful exploitation'of the compound in lacquers, varnishes, and other plastic coating Now, in accordance with the present invention, the heat, ultravioletlight, and outdoor weathering stability of ethyl cellulose and various plastic compositions made therefrom have been accomplished by the addition of a small amount of one or more of the mono-others of hydroquinone.

The various compounds used as stabilizers include hydroquinone mono-benzyl ether, hydroquinone mono-methyl ether, hydroquinone monobutyl ether, hydroquinone mono-amyl ether, etc. These stabilizers are effective in very small proportions. It is not proposed, nor is it necessary, to use these stabilizing reagents in amounts above about 3% of the weight of the ethyl cellulose present. Preferably, they will be employed in amounts equivalent to about 1% of the ethyl cellulose. Larger amounts than 3% are not necessary'and amounts substantially less than 0.5% do not have the desirable stabilizing effect.

tion is substantially equivalent to flexibility because lower flexibility tending toward brittleness indicates a lower viscosity.

The percentage viscosity retention is measured by the following method: Two duplicate samples of 'ethyl cellulose film are carefully weighed out. One sample is made up into a 5% solution with 80-20 toluene-alcohol and the viscosity measured. The other sample is kept for 4.3 hours at a temperature of 120 C. then made up into a solution and tested like the first sample and theviscosity is compared.

The following tables illustrate the beneficial eliect of ethers of hydroquinone upon the retention of viscosity and the retention of flexibility of films of ethyl cellulose haying an ethoxyl content within the range of 44.5% and 49.0% ethoxyl when subjected to heat, ultraviolet light and outdoor weathering.

-TABLE I Efiect of ultraviolet light (50 hour exposure) Viscosity Stabilizer retention Color Per cent Blank l1 Slight discoloration. 1.0% h droquinone monow No discoloration. benzy ether. 1.0% hydroquinone mono- 80 Do.

methyl ether.

TABLE II Effect of heat C'. for 48 hours) The ethoxyl content and the viscosity of the ethyl cellulose may vary within the ranges com mercially available although the typ s having an ethoxyl content between 44.5% and 49.0% are generally used for most purposes. articles, a viscosity of about 100 centipoises is usually used and films are frequently made up of 50 centipoise viscosity grades. Lower viscosity For molded tor oil fatty acids, fatty alcohols such as lauryl alcohol, vegetable oils such as-linseed oil, etc.,

;. may be incorporated in amounts necessary to the particular use to which the composition is to be put. In addition, there may be mixed with ethyl cellulose various compatible resins-such as wood rosin, run Congo, damar, cumar, etc., as well as fillers, pigments, and coloring matter. The stabilizers are added to the composition during the compounding of the lacquers or plastics and become thoroughly dispersed during the mixing operations. While the addition. of the compound during the mixing operation would seem to be the most practical method, other methods are within the comtemplation of this invention.

Thus, according to the present invention, monoethers of hydroquinone have been found to be very effective heat, ultra-violet light, and outdoor Weathering stabilizers. with or without additional ingredients such as plasticizers, resins, etc. and the retention of visicosity, flexibility, and color was found to be excelent.

The stability is attained What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent ts:

1. A plastic composition comprising ethyl cellu 4. A plastic composition comprising ethyl cellu lose and hydroquinone mono-methyl ether as a stabilizer therefor,

5. A plastic composition comprising ethyl cellulose and hydroquinone mono-amyl ether as a stabilizer therefor. f

, 6. A plastic composition comprising ethyl cellulose and about 1% vby weight of a mono-ether of hydroquinone as astabilizer therefor. v

7. A plastic composition comprising ethyl cellulose, a plasticizer, and a's'tabilizer comprising a mono-ether of hydroquinone.

8. A plastic composition comprising ethyl cellulose and about 1% by weight of hydroquinone mono-benzyl ether as a stabilizer therefor.

9. A plastic composition comprising ethyl cellulose and about 1% by weight of hydroquinone mono-methyl ether'as a stabilizer therefor.

10. A plastic composition comprising ethyl cellulose and about 1% by weight of hydroquinone mono-amyl ether as a stabilizer therefor,

JOHN S. TINSLEY. 

